Wichita eagle., 1887-05-11
THE DUCHARMES.

L
tave Ducharme stood, pike pole in hand
They were running the logs on the st. 10
| seph. The river was racing over the rapid
to where the falls were roaring and pulsine
under the dome Of mist which the April SUI
w2s smiting with rainbow shafts that broke
al glanced upon its shifting sides.
Ducharme struck his pole deep into the
boom, and gazed under his hand up ths
cleaning river. The water was broken and
| curled, and came turning the sudden bend
with foam topped waves that were bright
now in the afternoon sun. He looked steadily
for moment; then, as he saw something
drift into sight other than the dipping logs
he pulled off his heavy boots, threw down his
hat and watched again. There was rush OF
men on the river road, with waving Of arms
end confused cries. But Ducharme ever
watched the speck in the swift water, that
drew near to him and took the shape of q
white face drawn with pain and rocked to
and fro in the current. They were shouting
from the bank: Don't go in."-"Youll botl.
go over. Francois" -"Octaver'-shouts-
groa.ts-wiid jostling of men and waving OF
arms But he stood as calmly as if he were
watching m,skrat cleave the brown waters
of -one quiet lake in an ever widening wedge.
Suddenly he drew himself up and plunged
just in front Of the floating face The two
men spoke to one another quickly as they
were drifted swiftly together
"Oh, Octave. my leg. my legl"
Never mind, little brother; put your hand
on my shoulder"
The strong arms were making new eddies
in the torn water. The crowd ran along the
bank shouting wildly: ''Get into the eddy! p
"Ducnarne. Ducharme.7 "Strike into the
eddy, or you'll go overt" MY God" "Catch
the BOOM ''Strike in We'll pull YOU
out.'
They ran out on the boom where it was
swinging dangerously at the mouth Of the
chute. The water there was curved in a great
CLASSY heap with long wiry streaks. Above
was the eddy, wheeling and turning. To get
into its power was safety. The swimmer kept
edging in. In few moments he would be
abreast of it, He was muttering under his
breath:
keep up, little brother; keep up little
brother
The men on the shore strained forward,
struck in the air as if swimming, stamped
with their feet and reached out over the river
"My God. he's safer mo! he's missed it,"
One huge fellow sank on his knees and hid his
face. "No, boys, he's inn They'll get him!"
They're against the boom." ''Baptiste has
him!' They're safer And wild yell OF
joy tore through the air.
''Tal1e him first" Octave was saying; ''two
of you hang on; the water will carry him
under; I'm all right; pull him along out of
the current-there now
The men stoed around as they strove to
bring Francois to, and when he opened his
eyes they went back TO their work and left
him with Octave and the three who had
taken him out of the water.
HIS leg was broken in two places and his
head was gashed; but he was all right, he
said, and they carried him into the shanty.
That was almost the first year they were
on the river together, and all the dangers
that crowded thickly about them in the years
OF toll that followed were warded off by the
strength of four arms: for one Duchalme was
never alone, and it was always The Du-
charmes," not "FrancoiSn or Octave" but
The Ducharmes," "T'he Ducharmes of the
BaskatonSe.' Whether hunting, or logging,
or driving, or running the RATS down to the
st. Lawrence, or at home on the Baskatonge,
it was always the same. Have you the Du-
"thep you're all right"
How the work went when there was Octave
to sing and Francois to lead the musical cry,
when all arms strained togetherl And they
never seemed to think Of one another. They
went along unconsciously, working together,
ard when Francois was hurt it was Octave
who stayed with him until he was better
Octave. Octave" Francois would say, but
in return it was always Little brother No
one could tell why. One was as tall as the
other, and as strong. They were like two
stalwaTt young pines, straight and towering;
only, if you watched them closely, Francois
never even lit his pipe until he saw the smoke
part Octaves lips and curl about his face.
Octave was always first They did not know
il themselves, but Francois always followed
Their little house back Oh the Baskatonge
was heaped round with snow in the winter.
and the frosty wind blew no wreaths Of smoke
from the chimney into the pines But that
lad not always been so; there had been
time when there were four Ducharmes instead
# two, and when the frost drew curtains
across the windows of the bappiest home in
.he north.
Hypo,itc Ducharme was n trapper and
lunter who sold his furs to the traders,
md never swung an ak except to cut
lis own trewood. He had lived for
ome years on the Baskatonge, and did
lot find bimself lonely until one day,
when be took his winters haul of furs down
he Gatineau, he saw pair of brown eyes
hat told him plainly that he could not visit
lis traps day after day, and hear the sound
# the wild fowl driving in wedge south
caches of moving marsh grass, without seeing
hat house, back from the river about the
light of wounded partridge, and the girl |
With the plated hair working to the music |
# ber own voice. |
At noon the next day many were the bends |
md rapids between him and the three logs |
where he had landed the night before; but as |
lis canoe stcadied and swung out into the |
urrent, he was watched from the bushes, |
nj until the river bid behind the stony spur |
f the hill. that never before looked as cold |
nd hopeless, the dark eyes under the arch Of |
rown hands timed the flashing paddle, and |
rhen tie sun burned red for a moment on
he canoe, as it turned behind the hill-would |
ever come back+the November miSts
ame into that May day. and the wind kept |
ur ning the dead leaves in the forest.
The way had never seemed so long before:
he canoe was never SO heavy, and one sea-
Oh he had twice as many furs. But when
g turned north again it was short road he
ad to travel; and when he reached the rocky
oint the current bore him white wood lily,
ihich he took Jut of the water aS it grazed
De canoe side
He Travelled north again, but no: alone, and
lany were the thickets that trembled to the
Unknown sound of woman's voice. For il
-as n little matter whether it was on the
taska,onge or the Gatineau that Marie De-
,rus lived 50 long as she was with the man
10 loyaI